Finally, the moment has arrived. On Saturday, in what may serve as the final chapter in a rivalry that dates back to the 1990s, when their fathers famously clashed, Chris Eubank Jr. will face off against bitter rival Conor Benn at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The acrimony, the trash talk, and the years of built-up tension will finally have a chance to be settled once and for all.

When Conor Benn steps into the ring, his father, Nigel Benn, will be there in his corner. Steadfast and supportive. But what about Chris Eubank Jr.? Unfortunately, his story has taken a more somber turn. It’s no secret that the relationship between Eubank Sr. and Eubank Jr. has been rocky over the years. Many hoped the legendary father might set aside their differences and stand beside his son in perhaps the most important fight of his life. However, reports suggest he won’t be there. Not in the corner, not ringside, not cheering? The situation seems to have reached a point where Eubank Jr. and his team have decided to shift focus entirely to the task at hand. Why persuade someone who, by all appearances, has no interest in showing up to support?

Chris Eubank Jr.’s trainer: Let’s focus on the fight now

Jonathan Banks minced no words. For him and for Chris Eubank Jr., it’s business first. In an interview with Radio Rahim, Banks didn’t shy away from the sensitive topic of Eubank family dynamics. It’s been an emotionally charged issue, especially after Chris Eubank Sr. publicly called his son’s upcoming bout a complete ‘disgrace.’ So Rahim wanted to know how Banks had been able to manage the emotional tides of his pupil. Rahim asked, “How are you managing Eubank’s emotion and focus when his family life is so public and so disjointed?” Banks’ reply was exactly what you’d expect from a seasoned trainer: calm, focused, and pragmatic.

“When you’ve got a task at hand like this type of fight, that’s what you put first,” stated the veteran trainer matter-of-factly. The fight is days away, staring them down. This is no time to get swept up in emotion. “You deal with them when you get home, you know, but as far as right now, we’ve got a business; we’ve got business to do now. After the business, deal with the person, but right now it’s just business; we’ve got business to take care of,” Banks added further.

Rahim continued, probing whether the situation was weighing on Eubank Jr. emotionally. “You can never know what a person’s thinking when it comes to their own father,” Jonathan Banks admitted. “But at the same time, my job is to keep them focused on the task at hand; like any other distraction, anything else will be a distraction. I just need him to focus on the task at hand.”

A father’s silent grief

The British boxing legend called the upcoming ‘Fatal Fury: Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Conor Benn’ a ‘circus.’ The exchange was a ‘slap in the face’ of former opponent and now close friend Michael Watson.

Talking about the sheer weight difference between his son and Conor Benn, he said, “So where are these people today? Stand up for him (Michael Watson) by not going along with the nonsense and the circus that’s been created for this farce of a fight, which is between one fighter who is two or three weights above the smaller guy.”

Eubank Sr. sounded both disappointed and heartbroken. Especially referencing the infamous ‘egg-gate’ incident between Eubank Jr. and Benn. Money seems to have become the only motivation. “Such behavior does not reflect the conduct I have instilled in him. The Eubank legacy is built on discipline, respect, and professionalism,” he lamented.

Will Chris Eubank Jr. rise above the emotional turmoil and deliver a thumping victory?